3 year hair growth

My 3 year hair growth of being natural. My hair is growing back super fast. I don't do anything special just deep condition every week or every 2 weeks, moisturized my hair on a regular basis and style. I don't use heat that often because I am lazy to blow dry and flat iron my hair. 

Year 2:                   Year 1

Year 2:                Year 1

Year2

Following pics are year 3. Dec 2014.  My hair blow dried and flat ironed. It got bigger because I used honey in my deep conditioner and I used to much leave in before I blow dried. I don't mind because I like big hair. My hair was super soft and shiny although it doesn't show in the picture. 

                                      

Honey, your conditioner

For high porosity 4abc hair. Add the following about 1 teaspoon to deep conditioner or conditioner to make hair softer, smoother and more moisturized.  Deep conditioned with heat for 30 mins.

**Honey-humectant
**Aloe vera juice- help to close cuticles
**Olive oil-penetrate hair shaft
Grapeseed oil-ceramide to smooth hair strands.

**Vital to make the deep conditioner better. 

Sleek bun

I flat ironed my natural hair. It has been 5 days and it is still looking great. I don't use any gels or promade because I do not want to way my hair down. I use argan oil every few days to moisturize. I don't even wrap it at night. I just leave it in a bun and refix it in the morning. The bun is a store bought hair doughnut. 

 
                                                     Decorative hair pins to spice up the look. 

Color Natural Hair!!!!!!!!

I used the Clairol Natural Instinct in black to color my hair. Paid $6.99 at walmart. It is a temporary hair color, which perfect for type 4 kinky hair. The box said it last 28 shampoos. I don't believe natural hair should be permanent color because it will most likely lead to hair damage, especially if it is a lighter color than the hair that's being colored. Permanent color deposit color to the inner layer of the hair. 

Before color

                                                                   During Color
 This color relaxed my curls for the most part. It made my hair look like 4a hair. I know i have 4b cottony hair, with 4a in the nape. I didn't experience any breakage. My hair felt strong and moisturized during and after the process.
(TIP) apply the color with long sleeve and put vaseline around hairline and ears because the dye will dye your skin.

                                                     After color

2 years natural and loving it !!!!!!

My last relaxer was Jan 15, 2012. I m 23 months post relaxer and my hair is growing. I My hair only grow 4-5 inches per year, but I am retaining all my length.  I washed, blow dried, flat ironed my hair, and clip the ends and here are my results. I did use heat protectant. I couldn't get the ends to be straight for the life of me so I just left it alone.
                                        Dec 2013                             Dec 2012

Half straighten hair. My hair shrinks a lot.

Natural hair frustrations!

Since doing the second big chop I have been thinking I have not experience that natural hair frustration that everybody else experience.  I've been almost 2 years natural, it's been 11 months since my big chop.

What is my secret for not having hair frustration? 

Answer: wearing a wig.

I have been wearing a wig since May of 2012 when my hair was mid back length. I big chopped December 2012 and still been wearing my wig. I have never been out in public without my wig, but as soon as I get home my wig is off. I don't have to worry about styling my hair at all, worrying whether or not my hair is long enough, hair getting tangled if I wear my natural hair out ... blah blah....

All I do is take wash, deep condition my natural hair, moisturize and put it back in plaits, then remoisturize during the week. This eliminates all the natural hair frustration of styling my natural hair to wear out. My goal is to get my hair back to bra strap length then I wear my hair out until then I'll be wigging it all the way. My hair is currently shoulder length so I estimate I have another year and a half to go. 

Wearing a wig for that long for some people might be too much, but it works for me. It's just an idea for some of you who are natural who have never thought about it. 

I know for a fact that this is the only method that keeps going with my natural hair because I don't have to deal with it so the world can see it right now because I know for a fact I would have been one of those frustrated naturals. 

                                            Deep conditioning my hair. 

Product Junkie update #4

It's been exactly one year since my last product junkie rehab update. So these are all the products I currently have. I can say that I am doing good in controlling my habits, but it could always be better. My goal for the next year is to have half this amount.

                                                                     Full view of everything

                                                                        On the floor

                                                                                   Top of bathtub. 

Hair under wig

This is how I put my hair under a short wig without cornrows. I plait my hair in 8. The two back plaits I plait as close to the top of my head as possible because I the wigs I wear are crop really short in the back. This avoids bulging in the back of my head.

I do this method because I suck at cornrows and I am not going to pay anyone to cornrow my hair every week. Moreover this method makes it easier for me take my hair down wash and moisturize it any time.

Note: My hair is getting longer and thicker so I need to find a new way to fix my hair under my wig.



This picture is how I put my hair in a plaits, then wear my wig.

Then puff magic

How I care for my natural hair.

It's been almost 1 year since my big chop and I am keeping my haircare routine as simple as possible. This is my weekly routine.

1. First remove hair from my the 8 plaits I keep under my wig next detangle it.
2. Spritz my hair with water to dampen it. Slather on whatever deep conditioner i feel to use then go under my hair dryer for 30 mins  or (Sometimes I just relax around my house with the conditioner on my hair for 2-6 hours)
3. Wash my hair only with a sulfate free shampoo then condition and rinse.
4. Towel dry my hair, then add moisturize and use a light oil such as grapeseed oil or sweet almond oil.
5. Re-braid my hair in eight plaits and let air dry.
6. Wear my wig for the rest of the week. 1 time per week I will undo my plaits and remoisturize my hair. Put the plaits back in and wear my wig for the rest of the week. On Saturday I will start the process over again.

Viola this is all I do to take care of my hair and my hair is thriving. I think this is simple.
I always deep condition on dry hair because I feel like my hair absorb more moisture and it makes my hair not further dry out when I shampoo my hair. 

How to make Spritz for natural hair

Making spritz for natural hair is easy as 1-2-3. Making this helps my hair easier to apply moisturizer. This helps my hair to maintain moisturize rather than just using a plain creme moisturizer moreover the mix is cheaper and better than most hair spray moisturizer in the store. Just shake whenever you are ready to use it and enjoy a more moisturized hair.

All you need is
Filter water
 Oil (1-2 teaspoon of  any oil whether it be olive oil, grapeseed oil, coconut oil ... )
Empty spray bottle (8 oz)  (I used an old Victoria secret body spray bottle -I just washed it super clean.)

Optional:
Aloe vera juice (2 teaspoon)
Essential oil. (2-4 drops)

Put all the ingredients in the empty bottle first then add however much water to fill the bottle up then shake and use.

*Note I do use all ingredients including the optional because aloe vera juice works well for high porosity hair. Essential oil just add fragrance to the mix.

How to make moisturizer for hair

All the store bought hair moisturizers I bought for my hair suck. They don't properly moisturize my hair. The moisturize I use along with my whip shea butter is the kimmaytube leave in. This is such an effective way of moisturizing my hair by mixing the moisturizer with oils and aloe vera juice.

You need:
2 teaspoon of aloe vera juice (this create a ph balance for the hair)
2 teaspoon of any type of oil such as coconut oil, castor oil, olive oil...
2 teaspoon of any type of creamy base leave-in conditioner.

Optional
2 drop of preservative such as peppermint or eucalyptus oil

I mix everything together in an empty container. This usually last me 2-3 weeks. Then I make more as needed.

The best shampoo & conditioner for natural hair.

It took me a while to find what works for my hair and I finally find it. The best shampoo for natural hair is creme of nature Argan oil moisturizing shampoo. The best conditioner for natural hair is Aussie moist moisturizing conditioner. We all now that natural hair is very dry and difficult to manage. Creme of nature Argan oil moisturizing shampoo is awesome because it is sulfate free thus it doesn't dry my hair out. The scent is nice and most of all it is cheap $4.99 for a 12 oz bottle. I wish they made the shampoo in a gallon size. Aussie moist moisturizing conditioner is excellent for natural hair because it restores moisture, detangles and soften my hair. I purchased a 29 oz for $5.99 at Walmart and it lasts me along time furthermore it smells so good. The conditioner does have silicone in it, but I don't care it works great for my hair.  The combination of these two products for my hair is soooooooooooo amazing. I will always use these two products as long as they make them. I recommend these two products to anyone who is struggling with dry hair.
Aussie moist moisturizing conditioner for natural hair.
Creme of nature moisture and shine shampoo for natural hair.

Natural Celebs Inspiration

My first and foremost hair inspiration is Yaya Dacosta because she has never had a relaxer and I admire her for that. She didn't fall prey to use a relaxer and love the way God made her hair. 

My second inspiration is Solange Knowles because she is brave to step out and embrace what she was born with in the face of opposition. When she went natural I thought she was stupid for doing that, but now I understand she started to accept herself the way God made her with natural hair; therefore she became my inspiration. Her smile just says 'Im happy, I love myself the way I am and I don't care what you think about me.'

My next hair inspiration is Janelle Monae. She is in a class by herself she is happy with her hair and she follows no one when it comes to her hair, (heck) she doesn't  even follow anyone on twitter. Her mom gave her a relaxer when she was smaller but grew it out once she hits 18. She sets her own style and she is confident.

Whipped shea butter for hair

I found the must have to moisturize natural hair and that is whipped shea butter. Last Saturday I washed my hair and just left it until the next day to do anything to it. (Don't ever do this to your hair). The next day my hair was hard as a rock and look unattractive. I mixed some shea butter and apply it to my dry hair with my home made spritz and it totally moisturized my dry hair.      

Air dry hair (before shea butter)

before shea butter.

After moisturizing my hair with the shea butter and hair spritz.  I put my hair in braids for a few days and take them out. Shea butter restore softness, manageability and shine to natural hair. I will forever use this stuff. 

                                                           Look how shiny my hair is.

Meet my Fro

My last relaxer was Jan 2012. This is my hair growth 1 year and a half without relaxer. 

Sensationnel Easy 27 wig

I've been wearing the same wig for over a year and that includes sleeping in it for 6 weeks when I went overseas. This wig only has one comb in the back and two side tabs for added security. I usually put 2-4 bobby pins in the front for more security. This wig is pre-styled, human hair and it doesn't shed. I paid $24 online. I am currently wearing the other of the two Easy 27 that I purchased because I felt like I've been wearing the same one for over a year and I need a change. (I can still wear the old one if I want because it is still in good condition.)

  Overall great I would repurchase again. A lot of people tell me they like my hair and if I say its a wig they are shocked (lol)  because it look just like my own hair. (whenever I wash this wig it restores back life and fullness to it). 

http://www.hairwigharlem.com/sensationnel-100-human-hair-bump-collection-wig-easy-27.html

Make shea butter for your hair.

"Pure Shea butter is coveted throughout Africa for its natural skin care benefits. Several great benefits of Shea butter are: Use as a shaving cream for a smooth silky shave, stretch mark prevention during pregnancy, fights the effects of aging, repairs rough damaged skin, treatment of dry skin, eczema, minor burns, pain relief from swelling and arthritis, improves muscle relaxation and stiffness, sunscreen, due to its rich content of vitamins E & F, Treats dark spots, skin discolorations, blemishes, diaper rash and as a hair conditioner." THE IS WRITTEN ON THE CONTAINER

To make whipped Shea butter I used.

Coconut oil

Caster oil

Olive oil

Grapeseed oil

Vitamin E oil

Eucalyptus oil (1 teaspoon for preservative )

Shea butter

I don't measure my ingredients, I just place the Shea butter in a large glass bowl then keep adding oil to the mixture to get the consistency I want. I use a hand mixture to blend all the ingredients together. (You want the consistency of a cake mix when you are done.) Keep in mind you don't have to use all these oils just use what you have. You can purchase raw Shea butter online or locally at health food stores.

Ingredients

                                           Before I blend the ingredients together.